Free turntable speed check strobe

Sean, I had the same thoughts, but this is certainly worth checking out for free.

I measured my printed strobe disk with a precision steel rule and the spacing and exterior dimensions were right on, which is a good start.

I already own the KAB strobe and disk, along with the Walker motor controller. This combo allows absolute precision in setting speed.

I hope to have my system running again in about a week or two. If you have not tested the free disk by that time I will try to do so.

If the free disk is as accurate as the KAB, it would be nice to have as a spare.

For those who have nothing, the free disk and a neon test lamp ( from local electrical supply ) would make an excellent set up.

I use the following method to check for speed accuracy. I can't say whether it's more accurate than any other method, but it is free and only requires a stop watch and some time.

Place a line on your turntable platter and place another line on the turntable's top surface. The lines are used to count platter rotation. Start the platter in motion and using the stop watch observe the number of rotations the platter completes. In 3 minutes you should observe exactly 100 revolutions; in 6 minutes 200 and so forth. Six minutes is probably the minimum time needed for an accurate measurement.

This method can also be used with a record playing.

The original M&K Realtime LP's have a strobe disk printed inside the label area. I have checked this with the KAB and they are the same.

So for those fortunate enough to own any of those great M&K direct to disk's, they may be measured while playing as well.

How do I use this to check the speed? Do I just place it on the platter, spin the platter, and use a stop watch and count the turns like what Onhwy61 suggested?

Gundam91. If your question concerns the free strobe disc, holding a neon lamp near the rotating lines while playing it at the proper speed will make the lines appear to stand perfectly still.

If the lines run backward you are too slow. If they run forward the table is running too fast.

No download needed for the stopwatch gig. Just make a mark on the platter with masking tape and start counting. Much more patience required than shining the neon light and observing whether the lines appear motionless.